Four of Europe’s top leaders have urged Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, beginning Monday, following a high-level meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
The ceasefire proposal was jointly advanced by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, all of whom visited the Ukrainian capital on Saturday.
The visit marks the first collective trip to Ukraine by leaders of the four countries, which have aligned under what Paris and London call “the coalition of the willing.”
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andriy Sybiga, said on X that the ceasefire would apply to “land, air, and sea” and that Kyiv and its allies are prepared to implement the truce starting Monday. The goal, he said, is to create space for potential peace negotiations.
Russia, however, has so far resisted calls to pause its nearly three-year offensive. The Kremlin maintains that no ceasefire will be possible unless Western countries stop supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Moscow currently controls around 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, and has recently escalated attacks across various fronts.
The leaders’ visit included a moment of reflection as they joined President Zelensky in placing lanterns at a memorial honoring fallen Ukrainian soldiers.
Chancellor Merz, newly sworn in as Germany’s leader, was making his first official visit to Ukraine. President Macron, meanwhile, had not returned to Kyiv since June 2022.
In a joint statement following the meeting, the four leaders said they are ready to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Moscow if it fails to comply.
“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the statement read. “Alongside the United States, we call on Russia to agree to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to open the path toward a just and lasting peace.”
French President Macron added that the ceasefire could pave the way for direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv. However, President Zelensky has insisted that no negotiations can happen unless Russian attacks stop entirely.
The European leaders also revealed plans to discuss the formation of a potential post-war European security force to support Ukraine’s long-term stability.
Russia has strongly opposed any permanent Western military presence in Ukraine, warning it could provoke broader conflict with NATO.
Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv issued an alert on Friday, warning of a “significant air attack” in the coming days. Though Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared a symbolic three-day truce for the Victory Day celebrations, Ukrainian military officials reported no real decrease in combat activity.
The European Commission, through President Ursula von der Leyen, also supported the ceasefire proposal, stating on X that peace efforts must begin “without pre-conditions.”